With the holidays behind you and a new year ahead, it’s important to get your home back in order. These useful home maintenance tips can get you started:

1. Holiday Clean Up
Once family or out of town visitors are gone, most homeowners start taking down their Christmas decorations for a fresh start in the New Year. This is even more important if your home was a gathering hub for the holidays. You want to organize and label all of your Christmas decor as you put it away so it is easier to get out and assemble next year. And instead of pitching all the cards and Christmas wrapping in the trash, save some of the scraps in your wrapping bin to cut up for next year’s gift tags.

2. Deep Declutter
Another common practice is to make room for the new toys, clothes, and gifts you received for Christmas. Gather a bin of all the old clothes, shoes, and toys you can get rid of. You might also consider adding some old books, puzzles, or kitchen appliances you haven’t used in the past year. Take your gently used items to a charitable donation or secondhand store. This will cut down on the post-holiday clutter and help you feel a little lighter for the start of the year.

3. Check your Hardware
After a busy holiday, go around the house with a screwdriver to tighten down loose door handles, window latches, or deadbolts. Test all the smoke detectors and check your air filters. You can also carry some silicone lubricant to spray squeaky hinges or sticky window tracks. While you perform these tasks, make a list of any cracked switch plates, burned out light bulbs, or other small repairs you notice. Once you have a list of materials, it is easy to make one trip to the repair store to get everything you need.

4. Protect Your Pipes
Pipes are a big concern during the winter. A pipe that has frozen and broken (even just 1/8th of an inch) can leak 250 gallons a day. So pay special attention to the vulnerable pipes both indoors and outside. Check the hose bibs and sprinkler lines as well as any pipes in your attic, basement, and garage. If necessary, insulate pipes exposed to the cold. And when temperatures drop below freezing, occasionally run the faucets in your home to keep the water moving.

5. Check for Storm Damage
The dead of winter is when you want to be most vigilant in your home maintenance. The last thing you want is water damage from a broken window or leaky gutter. So take a tour around the outside and inside of your home checking the gutters, down spouts, eaves, windows, and doors. Seal any leaks you can find that may be letting in water and cold air. Insulation, weather stripping, and caulk will do the trick most of the time. But if you notice major damage to a window or door, contact a professional right away to talk about getting a replacement.

If during you notice that you need window replacement in Lake Oswego, OR contact EnergyGuard Windows and Doors. We can come out to Lake Oswego, OR and the surrounding area to provide a free in-home consultation and estimate. Feel free to stop by 516 E. 2nd St., Newberg, OR 97132 or call 503-554-5500 with any other window and door maintenance questions you have.